Paint colorant dispensing machine



July 3, 1962 J. P. ENGEL 3,042,259

PAINT COLORANT DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1962 J. P. ENGEL PAINT COLORANT DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 10. 1958 24k j 24.2 [G

FIG. IO.

July 3, 1962 J. P. ENGEL ,2

PAINT COLORANT DISPENSING MACHINE Filed NOV. 10. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 3, 1962 J. P. ENGEL 3,042,259

PAINT COLORANT DISPENSING MACHINE Filed NOV. 10. 1958 4 SheetsSheet 4 63 FIGS.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,042,259 Patented July 3, 1962 3,042,259 PAINT COLORANT DISPENSTNG MACHINE John P. Engel, Miller Place, N.Y., assignor to Sapolin Paints, Inc, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 772,877 9 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-33) This invention relates to dispensing machines and more particularly to machines for dispensing preselected quantities of a preselected colorant or colorants into a known amount of paint to produce a predetermined color.

It has been common practice for paint manufacturers to produce a number of different colors or shades of ready-mixed paints. The ready-mixed paint of each color is packaged insuitable containers, usually of gallon capacity or multiple gallon capacity or fraction of gallon capacity, such as quarts, pints, half pints, etc. This requires that the paint retailer, the jobber and the manufacturer carry large inventories of the various colors of paint. According to that practice, the paint is mixed to desired color at the manufacturing plant and then supplied as such in individual containers of each color through the customary channels to the retailer. According to another system practiced on a wide scale, the retailer carries only a limited number of colors of paint and is supplied with colorants, usually in compressible tubes, which may be manually added to a given amount of base paint in accordance 'With previously Worked out formulas and charts to produce a wide range of colors of paint. For example, by starting with a gallon of a par ticular base color paint such as white, or some other standard base color, the retailer may add a certain pre determined quantity of a selected colorant to it and, when mixed with the base paint, this produces a paint of a predetermined color. By varying the amount of color With a preselected base paint, according to formulas previously worked out, the retailer is enabled to supply colors of paint over a wide range of colors and shades without the necessity of carrying in stock a large number of different colors of ready-mixed paint.

This invention provides a machine which, on a predetermined presetting of the machine, will automatically deliver to a receiving vessel a predetermined amount of colorant, from a suitable source of different colorants, to be mixed with a predetermined amount of paint of a standard base color to produce a mixed paint of predetermined desired color. And, in accordance with previously worked out formulas and charts, it is possible to produce, and reproduce in matching color, a wide range of different colors and shades of mixed paint from a supply of a small number of difierent colors of base paints and a small number of base colorants, thus eliminating the necessity of the large inventory that would be required if each different color and shade of paint is carried in stock. In brief, the invention makes available to the retailer a machine which permits him to provide paints which are custom-blended to the desired colors to suit the individual tastes of individual customers and in a way that may be accurately duplicated; and, this may be done in accordance with previously worked out formulas and color charts.

Paint may be defined generally as a pigmented liquid composition which is converted to an opaque solid film after application as a thin layer. There are, of course, various kinds of paint, such as, oil paints, alkyd paints, latex paints, enamels of various kinds, etc. Suffice it to say that this invention is adapted for use in connection with all the various kinds of paint wherein a colorant is mixed with a base paint or vehicle to impart color to the mixed paint. And it will be understood as used herein that a standard base paint is to be considered as one having a standardized color, such as, white or some other predetermined standardized color; and, base, or basic, colorant is to be considered as a flowable pigmented coloring composition which is of a predetermined standardized composition and color, and may be mixed with a standard base paint to provide a mixed paint of a color or shade, different from the base paint with which it is mixed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of stationary colorant storage or supply vessels are arranged adjacent to each other on a suitable supporting frame or structure which may have means to support a receiving vessel, such as a standard paint can. Each colorant storage vessel is provided with a pump, which takes suction from the source of supply of colorant stored in the vessel to which it is connected. Connected to the discharge side of each pump is a discharge conduit having a delivery nozzle at its free end which normally rests within the same storage vessel to which its pump is connected, but inasmuch as the discharge conduit may be of flexible material, the delivery nozzle of any one or more of the plurality of flexible conduits may be removed from its normal position in its storage vessel and placed to deliver colorant, pumped from its storage vessel, by its pump through its discharge conduit, into a suitable receiving vessel which may be a paint can containing a standard quantity of a base paint that is to be blended and mixed with the added colorant.

Each of the plurality of colorant pumps, one for each of the plurality of colorant supply vessels, is connected with a common driving means which, in turn, i driven by a single prime mover which is preferably an electric motor, mounted on the frame. The pump driving means is connected with a driving mechanism, including a push rod, which operates a rotatable ratchet Wheel when the prime mover is in operation. The ratchet Wheel carries a numerically divided index scale which moves with the ratchet wheel relatively to a fixed or stationary index. The ratchet wheel has secured thereto a cam-shaped finger which operates, or throws, an electric switch when the index scale is moved to a position where. the zero (0') point registers with the stationary index. The cam-operated switch is connected in the electric power line to the electric driving motor and the arrangement is such that on setting the index scale to a predetermined position and the electric motor is operated to drive the pumps, the ratchet wheel is, rotated in response to movement of the motor, which also at the same time operates the pumps. When the index scale, associated with the ratchet wheel, reaches zero (0) position, the ratchet wheel cam finger throws the cam-operated switch. This cuts off the current supply to the motor and causes the entire machine to stop operation and hence any further pumping action. The amount of colorant delivered by the pumps is calibrated with the movement of the ratchet wheel and also the index scale, so that for any given setting of the index scale, a predetermined amount of colorant will be delivered through each of the flexible delivery conduits. The colorant passing through each of the conduits is merely circulated and returned to its storage vessel if its conduit is resting in normal position with its delivery nozzle in its vessel, but any particular colorant in the preset amount may be delivered into the receiving vessel containing the base paint by merely placing the particular flexible conduit with its delivery nozzle into the receiving vessel at the outset of the cycle of operation.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the annexed claims, the invention itself as to its objects and advantages and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by reference to the following more detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment and forming a part hereof, in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the invention with certain parts broken away, better to show the construction;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section, on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing a typical colorant supply vessel with its drive means, pump and flexible discharge conduit;

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation, on line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and partly in section showing a receiving vessel, in this instance a conventional paint can with the delivery nozzle of a colorant discharge conduit within the can;

FIG. 5 is a plan view partly broken away showing a part of the pump driving mechanism, and the reciprocating drive rod and ratchet wheel driving mechanism in fully retracted position;

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the ratchet wheel driving mechanism at the beginning of a stroke of the reciprocating drive rod;

FIG. 7 is a view in section to larger scale showing the manner of mounting the gear pump to a colorant supply vessel;

FIG. 8 is a view on line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a view on line 9-9 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram showing the electric circuit for connecting the machine and operating parts.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, the machine, as shown, comprises an array of stationary colorant storage or supply containers 10a to 10k, arranged in a circle and mounted on a horizontally disposed upper plate 11 mounted on suitable spacer supports 12 and a closure housing 13 comprising a side wall 14 of generally cylindrical shape, a front panel 15 and a base plate 16. It will be understood that the housing may be of any design and preferably is artistic in nature in order to lend aesthetic appeal so that the machine when placed in a retail store, for example, will serve not only its utilitarian purpose as a paint colorant dispenser and blender but also as an attractive and eyecatching display piece.

As shown, there are eleven colorant supply vessels 10 (a to k), one for each separate color of colorant that is to be used in the machine. But it will be understood that a greater or lesser number may be provided and this will be determined by the system that is worked out for the color-blending system that is to be employed.

Each colorant supply vessel 10 is constructed and mounted in the same way, so it will suflice to describe in detail only one typical colorant supply vessel 10 (see FIG. 3). It comprises a cylindrically shaped vessel 10 of suitable material, and, as shown, is stainless steel. It has a cylindrical side wall 20, a removable cover 21 and a bottom wall 22. The body portion, comprising side wall and bottom wall 22., is mounted in the upper plate 11 of the main frame of the machine. A pump 24 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 7) is mounted to take suction from a source of supply of colorant 25 through intake conduit 26 having its outer end mounted through a leakproof connection 27 to a suitable outlet aperture 28 in the bottom wall of the vessel 10. The pump 24, as shown, is a gear pump, of known construction and suitably modified to be mounted in leakproof fashion with a rotatable drive shaft 29, long enough to extend through appropriate holes in the bottom wall 22 and cover 21, with its upper free end portion 30 extending vertically above the cover 21 and consequently above the main plate 11. It will be seen that the rotatable pump drive shaft 29 extends through the liquid colorant 25 and is provided with a stirrer, in the form of a bent rod 31, fixed to sleeve 32 which may be adjustably secured and clamped to the pump shaft 29.

The gear pump 24 (see FIG. 7) comprises a pair of meshing impeller gears 33, 34, mounted in a housing 35 in conventional fashion; the drive shaft 29 of the pump being secured to gear 34 which it drives. The pump housing 35 has an outwardly extending hollow externally threaded boss 36 through which the shaft 29 extends. A packing chamber 37 is provided with a packing gasket 39 and a sleeve follower 38. The threaded boss 36 is provided with an internally threaded ring 40 forming an annular shoulder 41 upon which rests a ring packing material 42. A packing-gland cap 4-3 having an internally threaded cylindrical side wall 44 and a top wall 45 having an aperture 46 therein through which the shaft 29 extends. It will be seen that this provides means for mount ing the gear pump 24 to the colorant vessel 10 and leakage from the vessel to the outside of the pump is prevented by packing 41 and a conventional packing gland 37, 38, 39 for the pump shaft is provided.

The suction side of the pump is connected to the source of supply of colorant in the vessel 10 through suction pipe 26 which is threaded at its outer end. The threaded portion 49 extends through an aperture in the bottom wall 22. The threaded portion is provided with a threaded ring '50 providing a shoulder on which rests a packing ring 51 under the wall 22. A threaded clamping ring 52 holds the suction pipe 26 in place and a leakproof joint is provided.

The discharge port of the pump 24 is connected to a flexible discharge conduit tube 53 (see FIG. 3) which extends from the pump, mounted beneath the vessel 10, upwardly through a suitable aperture 54 in the main plate 11. The flexible discharge tube 53, as shown, is made of polyvinyl chloride plastic, which is transparent, so that liquid colorant in the tube will show through. This is an utilitarian advantage, but as well, it presents a pleasing color efiect when each of the colorant vessels is charged with a colorant different from the others. The outer free end portion of the flexible discharge tube 53 is provided with a delivery nozzle 55 which will not dribble colorant from the tube once the pump 24 is stopped after a pumping operation. The free end portion of the tube 53 normally is in the position shown in FIG. 3 with the nozzle 55 extending downwardly into an upstanding hollow neck portion 56 on the cover 21 of the vessel 10. The outer portion of the tube is provided with a disc 57, sealed to the tube. Preferably, this is a magnetized metal disc 57 which serves as a close-fitting cover over the upper end of the neck 56; the magnetized disc adhering to the neck with sufiicient force to hold it in place under normal operating conditions but permitting the manual lifting of the outer end of the tube 53 out of the neck 56. If desired, a stopper of suitable yieldable material, insertable into the mouth of neck 56 may be used instead of the magnetic disc 57. In some instances it may be desirable to place a helical metal spring 58 around the flexible tube 53 over its full exposed length, but this is not used in my preferred embodiment. Also, in some instances it may be desirable to mount the pump 24 inside the supply vessel 10 in its bottom portion, in which case it is wholly immersed in a bath of colorant.

The upper end of the pump drive shaft is provided with a sprocket gear 47, the hub 48 of which is secured to the shaft by a set screw 49. Hence, the sprocket gear 47 may be secured to the pump shaft in any random angular position. Referring now to FIG. 1 the sprockets 47 for each of the elevent vessels 10 (a to k) are indicated respectively by reference numerals 47 (a to k). And it will be understood that all of the colorant supply vessels 10 (a to k) are of the same construction.

It will be seen, as shown clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, that the gear pumps 24 (a to k) (not all of which are seen in these figures) are arranged with their discharge ports extending in a substantially radial direction toward the common center of the array of colorant vessels 10 (a to k). Trained over the respective sprocket gears 47 (a to k) is an endless sprocket drive chain 60 which is also trained over an idler sprocket gear 61 (later described) and a drive sprocket gear 62, which is secured to the upper end of a main drive shaft 63, driven through a speed reducer 64, connected to the drive shaft of an electric motor 65, serving as a prime mover. The motor 65 and speed reducer 64 may be mounted on the frame in any suitable way, as by brackets 66. The motor is connected in an electrical circuit, described in detail hereinafter.

Mounted above the main plate 11 is a horizontally disposed housing cover plate 70, supported on a side wall rim 71, it being noted that the main plate 11 and its overlying housing cover plate 70 jut out from the main body of the housing at what may be conviently referred to as the front or face of the machine. The necks 56 (a to k) extending upwardly from the cover 21 of the colorant supply vessels It) (a to k), extend through suitable apertures in the cover plate 70 and terminate a short distance above this plate. The flexible conduits 53 (a to k) pass through apertures in cover plate 70, above the corresponding apertures 54 (a to k) in the main plate 11.

The vertically extending rotatable drive shaft 63, which is driven through the speed reducer 64 by motor 65, also has secured to it a star wheel 72, having a plurality of cam teeth 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 (see FIG. 5). As shown, the star wheel 72 has six cam teeth and the sprocket gear 62 has eighteen teeth, for a purpose described later on. The star wheel 72 is secured to the drive shaft 63 and is positioned below the sprocket drive gear 62 (see FIGS. 2 and 8) in a plane just above a small bed plate 80, mounted on main plate 11. The sprocket drive gear 62 is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5 to indicate that it is mounted on the shaft 63 above the star wheel 72.

The idler sprocket 61 is mounted on a shaft 31, in turn, mounted on an adjustable bracket '82 (see FIG. 5) which is adjustably secured to the bed plate 80 by means of a stud bolt 83 which extends through a-slot 84 in the bracket 82. It will be seen in FIG. 5 that the tension on sprocket chain 60 may be adjusted by moving the sprocket 61 toward or away from the sprocket chain 60 by moving the slotted bracket 82 on the bolt 83 which may be tightened to clamp the bracket in any desired adjusted position to eliminate any undue play in the drive chain. Now it will be seen that, when motor 65 is operated, the drive shaft 63, and hence drive gear 62 and star wheel 72 are rotated. Inasmuch as drive chain 60 is trained over all of the sprockets 47 on the respective pump shafts, all of the pumps are driven at the same time and speed, in unison. As shown, each of the sprocket gears 47 (a to k) has sixteen teeth and drive gear 62 has eighteen teeth. The star wheel 72 has six cam teeth, for reasons explained in further detail later on.

Mounted in the central area of the cover plate 70 is an upstanding hollow sleeve 85 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) into which fits a rotatable vertically adjustable bracket leg 86. From this leg extends a horizontally disposed, flat, metallic bracket arm 87. The bracket arm 87 has depending therefrom a slotted guide plate 88 having a slot 89 adapted to fit over the upper edge of a conventional paint can 90, to maintain the bracket arm positioned over the open end of the paint can, when colorant is being delivered to the can. The arm 87 is provided with one or more apertures 91, 92, through which the free end portion and nozzle 55 of any one of the flexible conduits 53 (a to k) may be inserted, so that colorant delivered from the nozzle 55 will be delivered into the paint can 90, or into any other suitable receiving vessel, which'may be placed on the housing cover plate 7% under the bracket arm 87. As noted, the bracket arm 87 may be raised and lowered and swung out or" the way of the receiving vessel 90. The magnetic disc 57, in contact with metal arm 87 having magnetic properties, will hold the nozzle 55 of the flexible conduit in proper delivery position, when it is desired to pump any given colorant,

from any given supply vessel, through its flexible discharge conduit 53 into the receiving vessel 90. It will be understood, of course, that the discharge conduits 53 (a to k) being flexible, any of them may be manually removed from their normal resting places, as shown in full lines in FIG. 2, and placed in the receiving vessel 90 as shown in dotted lines.

In the machine, as shown, each gear pump 24 (a to k) delivers the same quantity per revolution of the pumps. The pumps are conventional gear pumps, modified as indicated, and they have been calibrated. That is, by experiment it was found that the pumps each deliver a constant amount of colorant liquid per revolution. The pumps, as shown, deliver /6 fluid ounce per revolution. Hence, in the machine, as shown, a pump 24 will deliver from nozzle 55 one thirty-second e of a fluid ounce for each 67 /2 of angular rotation of the pump shaft 29. Thus, if the sprocket gears 47 (a to k) have sixteen teeth, as shown, in the drawings which represent a preferred embodiment then for each three-tooth angular movement of a sprocket gear 47, the pump 24 will rotate 67 /2 and will deliver one thirty-second 4 of a fluid ounce of colorant through the discharge conduit 53. For convenience of description this amount of liquid colorant is herein designated as one volume count of colorant.

The machine may be operated by hand, if desired, and the pump shafts rotated through sufiicient angle of rotation to deliver from a discharge conduit a predetermined quantity of liquid colorant from its supply vessel. However, a preferred embodiment is operated by a motor and mechanism is provided which can be preset so that when the machine is operated by power, it will automatically deliver the number of volume counts of colorant (in this instance a volume count represents fluid ounce) for which the machine is preset at the beginning of a cycle and when that number of counts of colorant have been delivered by the pumps 24, the machine automatically shuts itself otf and will not further operate until a new cycle is manually initiated.

The counting, indexing and shut-off mechanism comprises, in general, a reciprocatable drive rod mounted to reciprocate in response to rotation of star wheel 72, in a guideway 96 mounted on bed plate 80, the drive rod 95 engaging and driving a ratchet wheel 97 (herein sometimes called a counter wheel) a given amount for each forward stroke of the drive rod 95. The ratchet wheel 97 has fixed thereto at its periphery a cam finger 98 adapted to engage a micro-switch 99 when the ratchet wheel 97 is rotated a given amount. This micro-switch is designed to shut off the current to the electric motor 65 when the cam finger 98 engages the switch stem 100 of the micro-switch, otherwise the micro-switch is normally on. As shown in the drawings, the sprocket drive gear 62 has eighteen teeth and the star wheel 72 has six cam teeth. Hence, on each three-tooth angtrlar movement of sprocket gear 62, a cam tooth will move the same angular distance. Also, since the sprocket drive chain 69 is trained over the pump sprocket gears 47 (a to k), each of these gears will rotate angularly by three teeth in response to a three-tooth movement (angular distance) of the drive gear 63. And inasmuch as each three-tooth movement of sprockets 47 results in an angular movement of the pump shafts 29 of 67 /2 the pumps will each deliver one thirty-second of a fluid ounce of colorant for each three-tooth movement of sprocket 62, or for each single cam tooth movement of star wheel 72. The star wheel 72 is so designed that for each threetooth movement of the gear 62 (see FIGS. 5 and 8) a cam tooth of the star wheel 72 will engage the inner end 106 of the reciprocatable drive rod 95 and move it forward one stroke, after which it is returned to retracted position ready to be moved in another forward stroke by the next succeeding cam tooth of the star wheel.

The bed plate 80 is secured to the frame, and, as shown, is mounted on the upper base plate 11. The guideway for the reciprocating drive rod 95 comprises a pair of guide bars, 101, 102, mounted in parallel spaced relation on the bed plate 80. A pair of bridge plates 103, 104, provide spacers and are held in place by means of screws 105. The inner end of the drive rod has an upward bent portion 106, providing a contact shoulder for engagement with the cam teeth of the star wheel '72. The outer end of rod 95 has a pawl member 107 pivotally mounted thereto on its upper surface, by a pivot pin 103. This pawl 107 has a pointed dog 109 adapted to ride on the periphery of the ratchet wheel 96 and engage its teeth 110. The pivoted pawl member 107 is springbiased by a first helical tension spring 111 staked at one end to pivot pin 108 secured to the arm 95 and at its other end to a stake 112 secured to the guideway bridge 103. This spring urges the drive rod 95 and hence pawl 107 toward its retracted position; that is, toward the star wheel 72. The pawl 107, pivoted at 108, is also provided with a second stake 113, a distance from the pivot pin 108. Secured to this stake 113 is a second helical spring 114 of less strength than spring 111, the other end of which is fixed to a stake 115 secured to bridge plate 103'. This spring 114 urges the pawl 107 to rotate about pivot 108 so that the bevelled rear edge 12 7 of the pawl will abut the front edge 128 of bridge plate 104, but the spring 114 is sufficiently yieidable to permit the pawl to rotate about pivot 108 so that the dog 109 will be at rest beyond the teeth 110 of the ratchet wheel when the rod 95 is retracted by spring 111. The spring 111 causes pawl 107 to rotate about pivot 108 in a counterclockwise direction until the bevel edge on pawl 107 lines up with face 128 of bridge 104.

The ratchet wheel 97 is fixed to a vertical stud shaft 116 mounted for rotation on bed plate 80. The ratchet wheel is provided with a large number of uni-form ratchet teeth 110, each of which, as explained later, represents one count of liquid colorant. This ratchet wheel has mounted at its periphery a cam finger 98, which is a part of cam bracket or plate 117. This plate 117 is provided with a pair of slots, through which extend clamping screws 120, 121. The screws are screwed into suitable threaded holes in ratchet wheel 97 to clamp the plate 117 in desired position, the slots 1'18, 119 providing means for adjusting the position of cam finger 98, so that it will trip the microswitch 99 at a precise and predetermined angular position of the ratchet wheel.

Mounted on the bed plate 30 is a second pawl 122. This pawl is L-shaped (as best seen in FIG. it is pivoted between its ends at the apex of the L on a pivot pin 123 fixed to the bed plate. One end is provided with a pointed dog 124 which rides on and engages teeth 110 of the ratchet wheel. The other end of the lever pawl 122 is provided with a stake 125 to which is anchored one end of a helical tension spring 126. The other end of spring 126 is anchored to stake 115 fixed to the bridge plate 103. This pawl 12.2, for convenience of description, is herein designated the dominant pawl because it has a strong spring 126 which rotates ratchet wheel 97 until dog 124 is at absolute base of any given tooth. And furthermore it serves the function of assuring that the ratchet wheel is firmly held without rotation, at the end of a stroke of drive arm 95 and that for each stroke of the arm 95, the counting mechanism will operate uniformly for each angular movement of the ratchet wheel 97.

The shaft 116, to which ratchet wheel 97 is fixed, extends upwardly through cover plate 70. It has fixed thereto, at its upper end, an index hand wheel, or disc, '129 which carries a numerically divided scale 130 at its periphery. This scale 130 cooperates with a fixed index 131 on the cover plate 70. The scale 130 is divided to have an index division for each tooth on ratchet wheel 97 and each division represents a volume count of colorant. Bearing in mind that each tooth of the ratchet wheel represents one count volume of colorant, the ratchet wheel and index disc are designed to be set so that the machine will accommodate itself to deliver any desired amount of colorant from one count up to a sufficient number of counts to cover a very wide range of color blends.

The electrical circuit for the machine is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 10. A holding circuit is used to permit the presetting of the number of volume counts of colorant that are desired to be delivered. This pre setting places the power-disconnect-microswitch in the on position. By actuating a start switch, a relay is brought into operative position and stays in operative position until the reciprocating push rod rotates the ratchet wheel and index scale to zero position. In this zero position the cam 98 on the ratchet wheel engages the microswitch and throws it to off position. This cuts 011 the current to the motor, which is the prime mover, and hence stops the pumps from any further pumping action and also cuts out the relay so that the motor and pumps will not again operate until the counting mechanism is preset and the start switch is actuated.

Referring now to the wiring diagram of FIG. 10, represents a source of electric power. The negative side is connected by a line 141 through a line 143 to electric motor 65. The positive side of the electric power current is connected to line 144 through a main switch 142 (which may be a snap-on, snap-off switch, see 142, FIG. 1), through micro-switch 99, which is normally in on position when cam 93 is in any position other than zero. A lamp 145 connected across lines 143 and 144 will glow when switch 142 is on to indicate that the main current supply to the machine is on. If desired, this switch may be left on at all times to light up any advertising display, or the like. The other side of micro-switch 91 is connected through line 146 to one side of a solenoid operated switch 147; the other side of switch 147 being connected by a line 14%, through a key operated switch 160, through starter switch 150 through line 149 to line 146 (see FIGS. 10 and 1). Line 143 is connected by line 151 to solenoid coil 152, the other side of which is connected by line 153 to line 148. Line 144 is connected through line 154 to solenoid operated switch 155, the other side of which is connected by line 156 to motor 65. A line 157 connected to line 156 through lamp 159, through line .158, is connected to line 143, which in turn is connected to the other side of the motor 65 (see FIGS. 10 and 1).

Operation The machine operates as follows: Assume that each of the colorant supply vessels is charged with a different base color colorant and the machine has been operated to circulate colorants and fill all discharge conduits, and it is desired to deliver a predetermined amount of colorant. There are, as shown, eleven supply vessels and the colorants may, for convenience of description, be designated A to K to correspond with the reference numerals 10 (a to k). Assume that it is desired to deliver twenty-five volume counts of colorant A to be mixed and blended with a gallon of a standard base white, to produce a predetermined color of mixed paint. A standard gallon can of the standard base white paint with lid removed is placed on the platform provided by housing cover 70, beneath bracket arm 87. It will be understood that all nozzles 55 of delivery conduits are in their normal position, as shown in FIG. 3. If colorant A is to be delivered to the can 90, then flexible conduit 53a is placed with its nozzle in the can.

The main switch 142 is turned on. Switches 147 and 1155 are off, so no current can pass to the motor 65. Lamp 159 is off and starter switch 150 is off. Microswitch 99 is normally on except when index wheel is at 9 (zero) Index wheel 129 is rotated clockwise until the division on scale 130 representing the number of volume counts (a count being in this instance fiuid ounce) that the operator wishes to be delivered to the gallon of white base paint in can 90 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Assuming twentyfive volume counts are desired, the division number 25 on scale 130 is set on the fixed index 131 on cover plate 70 by rotation of index hand wheel 129. This will bring the angular position of ratchet wheel 97 to a position corresponding to this setting, since the index wheel and ratchet wheel are fixed to a common shaft 116. The dominant pawl 122 with its pointed dog 124 in the valley between the ratchet teeth will hold the ratchet wheel firmly and in a position where there is no appreciable play.

Having set the scale to the division 25, the delivery conduit 53a is removed from supply vessel (if it has not theretofore been done) and its nozzle 55a is inserted through the appropriate aperture 91 in bracket arm 87 with the nozzle extending into can 90. The remaining delivery conduits 53 (b to k) are left in normal resting position with their nozzles in their respective supply vessels. The index dial and ratchet wheel having thus been preset to deliver twenty-five volume counts of colorant, the machine is now set and ready for a cycle of operation. The starter switch 150 is turned on. This immediately passes current through switch 142 (previously turned on), line 144, micro-switch 99 (normally On), line 146, switch 150, key operated switch 160, line 148, line 153, through solenoid 152, line 151, line 143, line 141, back to the source 140. Thus the solenoid 152 is energized and this closes switches 147 and 155. Immediately current will flow through switch 99, line 146, switch 147, line 153, coil 152, line 151, line 143 and line 141 to the source. Thus switch 147 takes over the duty of switch 150 and sustains energization of coil 152 even though switch 150 is released to open position. Consequently switches 147 and 155 continue closed. The closed switch 155 causes flow of current through line 144, line 154, through switch 155, line 156 to motor "65 and through the motor, line 143, and line 141 back to the source and hence the motor begins operation. In the meantime current flows through lines 157, lamp 159, line 158, line 143, line 141 to the source and the glowing lamp 159 is an indicator to show that the motor is running.

The operation of motor 65 causes the main drive shaft 63 (from speed reducer 64) to rotate. This causes rotation of main drive sprocket gear 62, which in turn drives sprocket chain 60. This causes rotation of all of the pump shafts 29 (a to k) with consequent operation of gear pumps 24 (a to k). Hence, colorant is pumped from each of the colorant vessels 10 (a to k) through their respective delivery conduits 53 (a to k). The colorants in all of said vessels are merely circulated back to their respective supply vessels, since all but delivery conduit 53a is in normal resting position. But the colorant pumped through conduit 53a is delivered into the receiving can 90, since the nozzle was placed there before the beginning of the pumping cycle. This circulation of the colorant, together with stirring action of stirrer 31, every time the machine is operated assures that the colorants will be uniformly mixed and the closed supply vessels provide substantially airtight storage for the colorant and unwanted skin formation on the colorants is eliminated.

While the motor 65 is running and the drive sprocket gear 62 is rotating, the star wheel 72 fixed to the same drive shaft is rotating with the sprocket 62. There are six cam teeth on the star wheel 72 and eighteen teeth on the sprocket gear 62. Hence, for each three teeth angular movement of sprocket 62, the star wheel moves angularly the equivalent of one cam tooth. At the beginning of a pumping cycle th reciprocatable drive rod 95 is in retracted position. In this position the shoulder 106 of drive rod 95 is in abutting engagement with a cam tooth on star wheel 72 and the point of dog 109 of pivoted pawl 107 is withdrawn but in angular line with a valley between ratchet teeth 110, as shown in full lines in FIG. 5. Also, the point of dog 124 of dominant pawl 122 is in a valley between ratchet teeth as shown in full lines in FIG. 6; it

10 being noted here that pawl 122 serves as a holding or locking pawl to hold ratchet wheel firmly from any rotation during the rearward or retracting stroke of drive rod and its pawl 107.

The drive rod 95 being in retracted position with its shoulder 106 in engagement with a cam tooth of star wheel 72 is now moved forward in guideway 96, by the continued rotation of the star wheel. The drive rod with the point of dog 109 of pawl 107 pushing against the substantially radial short edge 139 of the ratchet tooth causes corresponding rotation of the ratchet wheel 97 about its axis 63. When the star wheel cam tooth, in its angular movement, passes beyond the range of shoulder 166, the push rod 95 is immediately retracted to its rearward position, by the biasing retracting spring 111, where the shoulder 106 is engaged by the on-coming succeeding star wheel cam tooth. In the meantime, the holding pawl 122 holds the ratchet wheel from rotation, while the dog 109 of pawl 107 rides up the long side 138 of ratchet tooth 110 during the rearward stroke. The pawl 107 is pivoted at 108 and the weaker spring 114 permits the pawl to rotate on its pivot 108 a sufficient amount for the dog to ride over the ratchet tooth, but when the point of he dog 109 passes the apex or crest of a ratchet tooth 110, the bevel 127 stretches the spring 114 and immediately causes the pawl of dog 109 to momentarily lift out of engagement range of the ratchet teeth and the edge 127 of the pawl solidly abuts against the edge 128 of the bridge plate 104.

When the drive rod 95 has completed its forward stroke the ratchet wheel 97 has been rotated by one ratchet tooth (angular distance). Since this represents three teeth (angular distance) through which the gear 62 and pump drive sprocket gears 47 (a to k) have travelled, this means that one volume count of colorant has been delivered from each of nozzles 55 (a to k). Also, the index scale 130 has moved angularly one count division in a direction indicated by arrow 136 (see FIG. 1).

After the drive rod 95 has been retracted to initial starting position, it is then pushed forward again by the on-coming succeeding cam tooth on the star wheel 72. When the drive gear 72 has travelled another three teeth (angular distance), the cam tooth has driven the drive rod 95 through another forward stroke, thus driving the ratchet wheel 97 another ratchet tooth (angular distance), and the index scale 130 is moved another count division toward the zero position. Also, another volume count of colorant has been delivered from the nozzles 55 (a to k). This reciprocation of push rod 95 is continued with continued rotation of ratchet wheel 97, tooth by tooth, until the index scale reaches zero position. This is when the zero division of the scale registers with the fixed index 131. When this comes about, the cam finger 98 has been rotated with ratchet wheel 97 to a position where it engages the stem 100 of micro-switch '99 and opens this switch. This causes the motor, which preferably has a built-in brake, to stop instantaneously and consequently the pumps stop operation and no more colorant is delivered from the nozzles '55 (a to k). When the index scale has reached zero position, twenty-five volume counts of colorant have been delivered into the receiving can 90 and the paint and colorant may be mixed to produce the predetermined color according to formulas and charts previously worked out.

When the micro-switch is opened by cam finger 98 which depresses stem 100, the current to solenoid 152 is cut off. This results in the opening of switches 147, 155 and when switch 155 is opened current ceases to pass to motor 65 and it is immediately stopped. The motor 65 is preferably of a type which has a built-in brake. It will be seen that another cycle of operation cannot be begun except by operation of starter switch 150. So no further colorant can be pumped until the index wheel is reset to move the cam finger 98 out of engagement with the microswitch 99.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the machine may be preset by means of index wheel 12?, to deliver any predetermined quantity of colorant to a receiving vessel; that is, any desired number of volume counts within the limits of the range of the machine. And the machine may be adapted for a very Wide range. Also it will be understood that the foregoing description of the embodiment in which a three-tooth movement of drive gear 62 and a three-tooth movement of sprocket gears 47 represents the delivery of a given amount of colorant, is illustrative, and it is within the contemplation of the invention that these ratios of gears and indexes and their correlations may be changed or modified to accommodate the delivery characteristics of the colorant pumps which may be different from those employed in the foregoing illustrative embodiment.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the fea-' tures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A paint colorant dispensing machine which comprises a framework, an array of colorant supply vessels mounted on said framework, a separate gear pump connected to each of said supply vessels, each gear pump having an intake connected with the interior of its supply vessel and a delivery conduit from which colorant pumped from that supply vessel is delivered, a rotatable drive shaft connected to each of said gear pumps, each of said gear pumps delivering a predetermined fixed amount of colorant through its delivery conduit for a given predetermined amount of angular rotation of its pump shaft, means including a driven rotatable main shaft driving said pumps, a star wheel having cam teeth mounted to rotate with said main shaft, a guideway on said framework, a drive rod mounted for reciprocation in said guide- Way, a spring biasing said rod toward retract d position, said rod being pushed in a forward stroke from retracted position by said cam teeth and returned to retracted position by said spring biasing means, a disc wheel having ratchet teeth mounted for rotation on said framework, a pawl on the end of said drive rod, said pawl rotating said ratchet wheel an equal angular amount on each forward stroke of said drive rod, a scale having a zero position and mounted to rotate with said ratchet wheel, said scale being presettable with reference to a fixed index, said scale moving toward its Zero position a given amount upon each forward stroke of said drive rod and indicating the amount of colorant delivered by said pumps.

2. A paint colorant dispenser constructed according to claim 1 in which a second pawl engages said ratchet teeth to hold said ratchet wheel fixed during the retraction stroke of said drive rod.

3. A paint colorant dispensing machine for charging a predetermined amount of selected colorant into a receiving vessel which comprises support means, an array of colorant supply vessels mounted on said support means, a separate gear pump connected to each of said supply vessels, each gear pump having an intake connected to communicate with a supply of colorant in its supply vessel and a flexible discharge conduit having a discharge end for delivery of colorant therefrom, said flexible discharge conduits providing an array of flexible conduits and each having a discharge end normally positioned in the supply vessel to which its pump is connected, a rotatable pump drive shaft connected to each of said gear pumps, each of said gear pump delivering a predetermined fixed amount of colorant from its discharge conduit for a predetermined angular rotation of its pump shaft, means connected to said pump shafts for driving said pumps in unison, said means for driving said pumps comprising an electric motor having an electric circuit connected to a source of electric power, an openable and closeable switch in said circuit, a rotatable main drive shaft driven by said motor, a sprocket chain driven by said main shaft and driving all of said pump shafts in unison thereby driving all of said pumps in unison during movement of said sprocket chain, and a presettable counter and indicator means comprising a push rod reciprocatable in response to rotation of said main shaft, a rotatable counter wheel having ratchet teeth, a pawl connected to said rod and engaging said ratchet teeth and rotating said counter wheel tooth by tooth in response to reciprocation of said rod, a cam finger mounted to rotate with said counter wheel and engagable with said switch to open said switch when said finger has rotated with said counter wheel through predetermined angle of rotation; said flexible conduits being arranged so that any one of said array of said flexible conduits may be moved from its normal position to place its discharge end to deliver colorant pumped through that conduit to said receiving vessel.

4. A paint colorant dispensing machine constructed according to claim 3 in which a star wheel having a plurality of cam teeth is mounted to rotate in response to rotation of said main shaft, successive cam teeth on said star wheel engaging said reciprocatable push rod at the end of its rear-ward strokes and pushing said rod in its forward strokes causing said pawl to rotate said counter wheel through a perdetermined equal angle of rotation for each forward stroke of said push rod.

5. A paint colorant dispensing machine constructed according to claim 4 in which the pump drive shaft sprocket gears have sixteen teeth each, the main shaft sprocket gear has eighteen teeth and said star Wheel has six cam teeth.

6. A paint colorant dispensing machine constructed according to claim 3 in which a star wheel having a plurality of cam teeth is mounted to rotate in response to rotation of said main shaft, successive cam teeth on said star wheel engaging said reciprocal push rod at the end of its rearward strokes and pushing said rod in its forward strokes causing said pawl to rotate said counter wheel through a predetermined equal angle of rotation for each forward stroke of said push rod, said pawl having a bevelled edge permitting accurate pre-setting of said counter wheel.

7. A paint colorant dispensing machine for charging a pre-determined measured amount of selected colorant into a receiving vessel which comprises: supporting means including a frame; an array of colorant supply vessels mounted on said supporting means; a separate gear pump connected to each of said supply vessels and each of said gear pumps having a pair of intermeshing pump gears; a rotatable pump drive shaft connected at its lower end to one of the pump gears of each of said gear pumps and extending vertically upward from the pump gear to which it is connected; a sprocket gear connected to each of said pump drive shafts at their upper ends; each of said gear pumps having an intake connected to communicate with a supply of colorant in its supply vessel and a flexible discharge conduit connected at one end to the discharge side of each of said gear pumps, said conduitsproviding an array of fiexi ble conduits, each conduit having a free discharge end for delivery of colorant therefrom, the free discharge end portion of each of said flexible conduits being normally positioned in its supply vessel, each of said gear pumps delivering a pre-determined fixed amount of colorant from its supply vessel through its flexible conduit for a pre-determined angular rotation of its pump drive shaft; holding means for retaining said free end portions of each of said conduits in its normal position with its discharge end in its supply vessel, said holding means permitting the removal of the free end portion of any selected flexible conduit of said array of conduits to be moved from its normal position in its supply vessel and manually placed in position for delivery of colorant from said selected conduit into said receiving vessel; a rotatable 13 vertically disposed main drive shaft; a main sprocket gear mounted on said drive shaft; a travelling endless sprocket chain trained over said pump drive shaft sprocket gears and said main sprocket gear; pump driving means including an electric motor connected to and driving said main shaft, said chain and all of said gear pumps in unison upon rotation of said main shaft and driving all of said gear pumps through the same angle of rotation during travelling movement of said sprocket chain Whereby colorant is pumped through all of said conduits simultaneously during any rotation of said main shaft; presettable counter means operatively connected to said pump driving means and operative in response to operation of said pump driving means to indicate when a pre-determined amount of colorant has been delivered through said flexible conduits and to automatically render inoperative said pump driving means when said pre-determined amount of colorant has been delivered through said conduits; said conduits being sufficiently flexible and arranged so that any selected one of said array of conduits may be manually moved to Withdraw its free delivery end from its normal position in its supply vessel to place said delivery end temporarily over said receiving vessel to deliver colorant pumped through said selected conduit into said receiving vessel, While colorant is simultaneously circulated through the other conduits and back to their respective supply vessels.

8. A paint colorant dispensing machine according to claim 7 in which each of said pump drive shafts extends through the supply vessel to which its pump is connected.

9. A paint colorant dispensing machine according to claim 8 having a stirrer device connected to each of said pump drive shafts.

References (Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,793,973 Ward Feb. 24, 1931 1,977,781 Staegmann Oct. 23, 1934 2,765,104 Ball Oct. 2, 1956 2,787,402 Stiner et al Apr. 2, 1957 2,923,438 Logan et al Feb. 2, 1960 

